Folder Research

Design Technology | Food Technology

Key Stage 3 | Key Stage 4 | Key Stage 5

Research
In your folder you may be asked to research into a particular area. This is to give you more information about what people what and what is already available to buy. This then stops you from re-inventing the wheel and can give you some great ideas. Some of the different ways to research are:
Brainstorm / Spidergram	This is used in two ways. You could use it to put down all the information you can think of about a particular subject. Lots of people do this and it can be centred around these words: Who? Who is going to buy it? Who is it aimed at? What? What is it that you have been asked to do? What is it that you are selling? Why? Why have you been asked to do it? What is the situation? When? What time constraints are there? When is it to be sold or produced? Where? Where are we to sell it or make it? How? How is it to be used? or it can be used to draw up a list of things which need to be considered before you undertake the project. These are basic things like time, equipment, hygiene, etc.
Questionnaire	You could write a questionnaire to find out peoples likes and dislikes. This can then be used to find out what they might buy or want. Sometimes having others peoples opinions are vital, because they can often think of things which you may not have. Remember, just asking the questions is not enough you must look at the results that you get. This is called analysis.
Cut and Paste	A cut and paste is usually examples of products that already exist. In Food Technology we can use pictures from magazines, the internet or even packaging. You must label the information you find though, looking things like the ingredients, manufacturing method, popularity or even cost.